JEDDAH, 16 October 2005 — Saudi Arabia yesterday announced an emergency aid package of SR500 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure projects in Pakistan after the killer earthquake on Oct. 8.

“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah gave orders for a grant of SR500 million to rebuild infrastructure facilities including schools, buildings, roads and hospitals in Pakistan,” said a royal court statement.

“The finance minister has put the state Saudi Development Fund in charge of carrying out projects on an emergency basis in coordination with relevant parties in Pakistan,” the Saudi Press Agency said, quoting the royal court.

King Abdullah had earlier ordered a rapid airlift of doctors, medicines, tents, blankets and food to Pakistan and a nationwide campaign to collect donations from Saudis and expatriates for the quake victims. The Kingdom has also set up a field hospital to treat casualties from the earthquake.

Abdul Aziz Al-Suwaiyegh, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s office in the Western Province, said the king’s donation reflected the strong relations between the two countries. “There is good cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in all sectors, especially in the war against terrorism,” he said.

“This is the single largest donation from a country,” Pakistan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Abdul Aziz Mirza, told Arab News. “We are thankful to King Abdullah and his government for this generous donation,” he said, pointing out that the Kingdom has been sending relief assistance ever since the disaster struck. “It’s heartening to note that a large number of Saudi philanthropists have come forward to help our country,” he added.

Pakistan’s consul general in Jeddah, Masood Akhtar, welcomed the king’s generous offer and said it indicated his love for Pakistan and its people. “Saudi Arabia has been the greatest friend of Pakistan and King Abdullah’s initiative has energized everybody — Saudis and expatriates alike — to chip in with cash and other relief material. This is unprecedented,” Akhtar added.

“It is not surprising that the king ordered this generous donation. Saudi Arabia has always been supportive and giving to people in need of help and humanitarian assistance,” said Zainab Mohammed.

“As Muslims we are ordered to help those in need regardless of their religion. We don’t ask for recognition or anything in return. We only pray that God will reward us for our good deeds,” said Lamia Masoud.

Watching the reports on television of the destroyed homes and dead bodies has moved many people to donate money or in kind especially during this month of Ramadan when people are inclined to give.

“I’m saddened that our fellow Muslims in Pakistan and India are suffering like this, but everyone is praying for them and trying to do what they can as soon as they hear of someone who has a family there. There are so many Pakistanis and Indians who work here and we have long and good relationships with these two countries, so it is quite natural that the king and the people of Saudi Arabia donate,” said Sahal Makki.

Many people reacted soon after the news and images of the disaster were broadcast. A group of young men and women members of Life Makers, part of WAMY, began collecting blankets and winter clothes to send to Kashmir. “We began 10 days ago and tomorrow is the last day when we take everything we’ve collected to the Pakistani Embassy for shipment,” said Lina Noor.

The group posted their donation drive on their website, and sent out appeals by SMS on the day of the earthquake. The response has been overwhelming. “We have been receiving calls from all over the Kingdom by people asking us how and where they can donate. We have, thank God, collected a large amount of items,” she said.

Anees Khan, a Pakistani expatriate working in the Kingdom for more than 15 years, said the donation was a sign of true friendship between the two countries. “Pakistanis look forward to the Kingdom as the leader of the Islamic world and this donation reflects our concept,” Anees said.

“The Kingdom’s gesture is a symbol of fraternity maintained between the two countries,” Tariq Butt said.

Mohammed Ilyas, president of the Sri Lankan Expatriates Society which is collecting donations in kind for the quake victims, said the Kingdom has always been in the forefront for supporting friendly countries whenever they are affected by natural calamities.

The death toll from the quake rose sharply to nearly 40,000 yesterday, with the Pakistani president warning the numbers could jump still higher while homeless survivors, struggling against rain and plunging temperatures, searched desperately for blankets and tents.

While relief teams reached more distant villages in endless mountain folds, the suddenly frigid weather in some quake-hit areas was an ominous sign that the bitter Himalayan winter was fast approaching — with thousands of villagers still cut off from any aid whatsoever.

Heavy rain began falling early yesterday in many quake-hit towns and snow fell in the surrounding mountains, disrupting efforts to help an estimated 2 million people still lacking shelter.

Only 18,000 tents have been distributed so far to house them, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said.

With temperatures down to 8 degrees Celsius, Balakot, which has become a major staging ground for refugees coming in from cut-off villages and aid groups trying to distribute relief, became a frigid, rain-soaked nightmare.

Mohammed Qassim, 25, took shelter from the rain under the corrugated roof of a collapsed building.

He was searching desperately for a tent to keep his five children, as well as the families of his two brothers, reasonably warm.

“For the sake of God, please give me one tent so that three families can live!” he’d been telling aid groups, most of which appear to have run completely out of tents. “They said no.” Now, he’s hoping to at least get plastic sheets.

“We distributed 1,000 tents yesterday but we have run out. Now we’re cutting up our outdoor hoardings (plastic signs) and distributing those in sheets,” said Farhi Butt, a part owner of a telecommunications company that had rushed aid to Balakot.

“They’re waterproof. It’s not what they’re made for but it will help the people survive for now.”

Asked why he was out in the rain distributing relief, his answer was simple: “It’s my country, my people.”

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said the grim numbers — 38,000 dead and 62,000 injured in Pakistan alone — are likely to get worse in the coming days as rescue teams reach more villages.

(Samir Al-Saadi, Maha Akeel, Mohammed Rasooldeen, Azhar Masood and Huma Aamir Malik contributed to this report)